​Did you know that the homes indoor air quality can often be worse than air quality outdoors?  That’s scary to think considering we spend so much of our time inside.  One way to improve your homes air quality is by changing your HVAC filter regularly.  As a general rule, depending on use, every 3 months is good to replace the filter, however, there are some circumstances when it is a good idea to replace it even more frequently than that.  Let’s look at a few of them:
 
Firstly, if you have noticed the filter is damp, wet or damaged in some other way, then it should be replaced immediately.  Harmful mold spores or other toxins could be released into the air creating an unsafe environment. 
 
Another example of the need to change the filter more often than 3 months is in homes with large households and pets.  This is because the larger the household the more dirt, dust and pet dander tends to accumulate.  Also, homes where family members suffer with allergies or that smoke indoors benefit from frequent changing of the filter.
 
The homes location and surroundings will also have an impact on how often a HVAC filter should be changed.  If there is construction going on around you or if you live in area of agriculture, it would be a good idea to replace filters as much as once a month.  If there have been wildfires in the area, this can also affect indoor air.
 
So, as we can see, your homes HVAC filter does a lot to improve indoor air quality so, think about your household and surroundings to determine how frequently it should be changed.

​Home cooling costs can become an expensive necessity when outside temperatures are high, leaving many homeowners to look for ways of saving on their energy bills.  One, unexpected, way this can be done is with landscape design.  How is that? You may ask.  By planting trees and shrubs in specific locations so that they will provide shade to parts of the home that see a lot of heat from the sun during the summer months.  This method, known as landscape shading, could reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 9 degrees. 
 
In order for landscape shading to work well a lot of planning needs to go into the landscapes design.  Trees need to be planted in just the right location so that they shade the home at the time it is needed most.  You will also need to consider the type of trees to plant.  Remember, the denser the tree, the more shade your home will get.  If you want shade in the summer but would like the suns heat to warm the home during cooler months it is best to choose deciduous trees which will lose their leaves in winter, allowing for the sun to reach the home.
 
There are a few points to think about with landscape shading, however.  Trees will take some time to reach their full height so its unlikely you will see immediate energy saving results.  If you are looking for more rapid results then vines are a good choice.  Try growing them to wrap around a fence or trellis in the area you require shade.  You can also plant shrubs which are ideal for shading pathways or driveways. 
 
To summarize, landscape shading is an environmentally friendly way of helping to cool your home during the hot months.